KL Rahul’s batting position is in doubt as the Delhi Capitals (DC) team management is yet to decide their playing combination for the IPL 2026 season. Ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League campaign, DC head coach Hemang Badani highlighted the uncertainty over KL Rahul.
The Indian star batter performed gracefully in the previous season for the Delhi Capitals. He operated as an opener and bagged tons of runs to justify his talent and class. In IPL 2026, will the management play Rahul again as an opener or as a middle-order batter? Hemang Badani had to face the question.
KL Rahul had a batting average close to 54 in IPL 2025
In IPL 2025, DC was very close to qualifying for the playoffs, but missed the opportunity by only a few inches. The right-handed batter joined the Delhi-based franchise after a forgettable stint with the Lucknow Super Giants.
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In the DC colors, KL Rahul gathered 539 runs in 13 matches for a brilliant batting average of 53.90 and a 149.72 strike rate.
Delhi Capitals head coach revealed the truth about KL Rahul’s batting position
Talking with the news agency ANI, the DC coach expressed that they are yet to decide the Karnataka-born’s role for the upcoming season, as they have multiple options in their squad. KL Rahul, one of the most versatile batsmen in the modern era of cricket, can operate both in the top middle order.
“It is still undecided,” Badoni told ANI. “It’s a million-dollar question. Honestly, we are still undecided, and I do not think I can give an answer right now. Within the next week or so we will have clarity whether he bats as an opener or in the middle-order.”
Multiple proven batters cause a headache for the coach
For the middle-order batting positions, DC has Indian and overseas options to be picked from. South Africa’s Tristan Stubbs and David Miller are among the batters who are natural middle-order batters.
Along with Stubbs and Miller, uncapped Indian batter Asutosh Sharma is also in the set-up, who can operate as a finisher. Experienced batter Nitish Rana is also a part of the team for the IPL 2026 season.
“So it is a challenge for every side that you can only play four overseas. And when you have quality overseas options, it becomes difficult for you to try and pick just four in the side. But it is understood by everyone that the mandate is just about four”, the Delhi Capitals head coach said.
“So it boils down to, again, on that given day: what are the opposition bowlers like? Which of our overseas players will add value? Which of the overseas players are best suited for that game? It will literally be a decision that we take as we go by, game by game”, he added.
To strengthen the batting line-up, DC roped in Sri Lanka international Pathum Nissanka and England opener Ben Duckett, also from the auction, as their key overseas recruitments.
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